Biography

Chen Dao first served Liu Bei as his aide-de-camp when the latter proclaimed himself to be the Governor of Yu Province".Tao Qian once recommended Liu Bei to be the Governor of Yu Province in 194, but Tao Qian's request was not recognized by the Han court. However, this became Liu Bei's self-instituted title known publicly by the people at the time. (The formal Governor of Yu Province, Guo Gong (郭貢), was too busy fighting Cao Cao, and did not bother to care about Liu Bei's usurpation.) See Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 61《诸葛亮集》："(陈)到所督，则先帝帐下白毦，西方上兵也。" In the Compilation of Zhuge Liang, Chen Dao was stated to be Liu Bei's aide-de-camp who controlled a special unit called the "white-eared (or white-feathered)." which was responsible for the emperor's personal safety. Chen Dao assisted Liu Bei's escape to Baidicheng (former name of Yong'an) after the disastrous Battle of Xiaoting. When Zhuge Liang became the regent, Chen Dao was made...Read More